RESEARCH FOCUS

Social and Health Consequences of Substance Use and Misuse

Frayed rope about to break.

Photo credit: Iván Melenchón Serrano

We examine the impact of addiction on interpersonal relationships, the workplace, sexual behavior, aggression and other social and health problems.

Our experts have established lines of research on diverse paths including high school/college gambling and substance use; alcohol and drugs in the workforce/workplace; and aggression, affect, restraint, moods and drinking. Research on women's substance use has expanded into studies about sports, gender and substance use; risky sexual behavior; alcohol-related stressors among sexual minorities; and alcohol, sexual assault and sexually transmitted disease.

Current social and health consequences research

  • Prenatal Tobacco and Cannabis Exposure: A Translational Study
    2/21/22
    Thanos
    Researchers will address the large public health problem of comorbid use of tobacco and cannabis during pregnancy.
  • Dyadic Influence Processes among Heavy Drinking Couples
    2/21/22
    Fillo
    This Mentored Research Scientist Award entails structured training and research activities that will enable the awardee to examine the nature, use, and relative effectiveness of the full range of social control (i.e., influence, regulation) strategies used among romantic partners aimed at reducing high-risk drinking behavior.
  • Effects of Prenatal Cocaine on Early Brain Functional Connectivity and Behavior
    2/21/22
    Grewen | Eiden
    Researchers will study the effects of prenatal cocaine and other drug exposures including opiates on the development of infant brain connections during the first year of life.
  • Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program
    2/21/22
    Chang | Barrick | Griswold | Dermen | Elze | Janikowski | Austin-Ketch | Campbell-Heider
    This project will train graduate students to provide empirically supported, team-based addictions prevention and treatment services in integrated behavioral health-primary care settings located in underserved Western New York communities.
  • Health Evaluation of the Results of Opioid Intervention Court (HEROIC)
    11/18/21
    Homish | Kahn
    This project will compare outcomes of Opioid Intervention Court (OIC) participants with a comparison group of participants enrolled in a traditional Drug Treatment Court (tDTC). Specifically, we will examine changes in treatment, physical and mental health, social and environmental factors, and justice related outcomes, This study addresses the leading cause of accidental death in the United States-drug overdose. This study is significant because to date, there has not been a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of opioid intervention courts. This project will exert a sustained and powerful influence on the research fields of public health intervention and implementation science to inform public health policy and strategies.
  • Operation: SAFETY (Soldiers and Families Excelling Through the Years)
    11/18/21
    Homish
    Operation: SAFETY is a longitudinal research study that examine the health and well-being of U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard Soldiers and their partners.
  • Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault Risk the Routines of Daily Life: A Social Goal Perspective
    4/11/19
    Read | Colder
    Researchers will examine the ways in which women may enter into and navigate high risk contexts and activities (routine risk activities) that are known to be associated with sexual assault.
  • Harnessing the Power of Friends to Reduce Sexual Assault Risk
    4/11/19
    Read | Livingston
    This study seeks to develop and complete a preliminary test of a brief intervention designed to prevent sexual assault (SA) among college women.
  • Nicotine Amplification of Behavioral and Neural Responses to Alcohol Cues
    4/11/19
    Meyer
    This study will use animal models of alcohol drinking to determine under which conditions nicotine enhances alcohol intake.